Global Heating and Weather Systems

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to global heating, air flow, water flow, weather, air fronts, and climate.

Radiation

Transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic waves.

Latitude

The distance in degrees north or south of the equator.

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy through direct contact.

Albedo

A measure of reflectivity; lower albedo absorbs more heat (darker surfaces), higher albedo reflects more heat (lighter surfaces).

Wind

Movement of air from areas of high pressure to low pressure.

Convection

Transfer of thermal energy through the movement of particles within matter as warmer parts rise and cooler parts sink.

Global Convection Cells

Circulation patterns in the atmosphere resulting from temperature and pressure differences; includes Polar Easterlies, Prevailing Westerlies, and Trade Winds.

Polar Easterlies

Cold winds blow east to west near the poles.

Prevailing Easterlies

Winds that blow east to west at 30 degrees N/S to 60 degrees N/S

Trade Winds

Winds that blow through east to west at 30 degrees north to 30 degrees south

Coriolis Effect

Earth's rotation causes air and water to appear to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Density Current

Vertical movement of water caused by high salinity; cold water sinks and warmer, less salty water rises.

Surface Current

Wind-driven current that carries ocean water horizontally across the ocean's surface.

Upwelling

Occurs when wind blows across the ocean's surface, pushing water away and forcing cold water up.

Weather

The atmospheric conditions of a certain place at a certain time.

Weather Variables

Factors that describe weather; includes precipitation, temperature, wind, humidity, and air pressure.

Air Mass

Large bodies of air that have the same temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Low Pressure System

A weather system where warm air rises, resulting in less pressure on Earth.

High Pressure System

A weather system where cold air sinks, resulting in more pressure on Earth.

Front

The boundary where two air masses meet.

Cold Front

The boundary where a cold air mass replaces a warm air mass.

Warm air pushes cold air under and warm air rises.

Warm Front

The boundary where a warm air mass replaces a cold air mass.

When a warm air mass pushes into a slower-moving cold air mass, causing the warm air to rise gently over the cold air

Stationary Front

Where cold and warm air meet.

Occurs when warm and cold air masses meet but neither is strong enough to move the other, causing them to stall. This creates prolonged stable weather conditions—often cloudy skies, fog, and steady rain or snow—that can last for several days.

Occluded Front

Occurs when a fast-moving cold air mass catches up to a slower-moving warm air mass, trapping the warm air between two colder air masses and pushing it upward. This complex, sandwich-like system usually brings cloudy skies, heavy precipitation, and shifting winds.

Cold Front Chart

Warm Front Chart

Climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.

Rain Shadows

Areas of low rainfall on the downwind slope of a mountain.

Main Climate Types

Includes tropical, dry, polar, continental, and mild.

Tropics Solar Energy

Sun rays come down at 90 degrees.

See image.

Temperate Solar Energy

Sun rays come down at 45 degrees.

See image

Polar Solar Energy

Sun rays come down at 20 degrees.

See image